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Arts & Entertainment

Six-Piano Ensemble Keyed Up for Special Show

Renowned guest to lead musicians in piece he wrote specifically for group at Oakton Community College.

Six pianists take their place behind their keyboards as veteran conductor Glenna Sprague stands front and center. With precision and swiftness, the dynamic melody eludes from the pianos as the artists create individual tones while other times creating a cohesive sound.

“The melody goes from piano to piano…some times simultaneously, some times separate,” said Sprague.

A proud professor and conductor at , Sprague said the “unique” six-piano ensemble performance is comparable to an orchestra “except with pianos.”

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“We are the only group of its kind in the Midwest,” she said. 

Sprague created the ensemble in 1980, which began as a class for master students and evolved into six pianos. In the past 30 years, the group has been invited to national and international conferences, where Sprague says they are often the featured artists.

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This year the ensemble has a featured guest of its own: world-renowned composer Robert Vandall. He wrote the "Oakton Toccata" specifically for the group and will be the guest conductor for the piece. The show will also feature an eclectic group of popular melodies including ragtime, classical, Mozart and Scott Joplin.

“The whole show is my favorite part. It is so unique. You just don’t hear this kind of music [in] other places,” said Sprague.

The cast of pianists includes local musicians Beatriz Levi, Garfield Sallman, Larry Baer, Adrian Metzger, Maingirdas Motekaitis, Marianne Pyster and Lina Schaal.

Sprague says she is very lucky to have the support of the community.

“I am very fortunate, every year it is sold out,” she said.

Tickets are available by calling the school's box office at 847-635-1900. Prices range from $17 for general admission to $12 for groups of 15 or more.

Performances are April 16 at 8 p.m. and April 17 at 3 p.m. at the Oakton Community College campus at 1600 E. Golf Rd. in Des Plaines.

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